About the book

The Burning Question reveals climate change to be the most fascinating scientific, political and social puzzle in history. It shows that carbon emissions are still accelerating upwards, following an exponential curve that goes back centuries. One reason is that saving energy is like squeezing a balloon: reductions in one place lead to increases elsewhere. Another reason is that clean energy sources don't in themselves slow the rate of fossil fuel extraction.

Tackling global warming will mean persuading the world to abandon oil, coal and gas reserves worth many trillions of dollars - at least until we have the means to put carbon back in the ground. The burning question is whether that can be done. What mix of politics, psychology, economics and technology might be required? Are the energy companies massively overvalued, and how will carbon-cuts affect the global economy? Will we wake up to the threat in time? And who can do what to make it all happen?

About the author

Mike Berners-Lee is a leading carbon consultant and author of How Bad Are Bananas?, one of the bestselling green books of recent years. Duncan Clark is a Guardian environment journalist and author of various successful books, including TheRough Guide to Green Living.

Reviews

Praise for How Bad Are Bananas? 'It is terrific. I can't remember the last time I read a book that was more fascinating and useful and enjoyable all at the same time

- Bill Bryson

An engaging book that manages to present serious science without preaching

- New Scientist

Enjoyable, fun to read and scientifically robust. A triumph of popular science writing

- Chris Goodall

The image of scientists and academics used to be one of calm people mildly watching the world of data and prodding it now and again. Today, the frustration among many is palpable. This book shows why. The gap between evidence, policy and practice is yawningly wide. And widening. This book tries to bridge that gap, offering a reasoned account of the problem and suggesting where and how we might change as consuming societies. In my own area of food, this seems to point one way - culture change. Read this and it'll help you think about the options for how to do that

- Timothy Lang

The issues explored in The Burning Question are hugely important. Policymakers and the public urgently need to be engaging in this kind of big-picture conversation

- Jim Hansen

About the book

The Burning Question reveals climate change to be the most fascinating scientific, political and social puzzle in history. It shows that carbon emissions are still accelerating upwards, following an exponential curve that goes back centuries. One reason is that saving energy is like squeezing a balloon: reductions in one place lead to increases elsewhere. Another reason is that clean energy sources don't in themselves slow the rate of fossil fuel extraction.

Tackling global warming will mean persuading the world to abandon oil, coal and gas reserves worth many trillions of dollars - at least until we have the means to put carbon back in the ground. The burning question is whether that can be done. What mix of politics, psychology, economics and technology might be required? Are the energy companies massively overvalued, and how will carbon-cuts affect the global economy? Will we wake up to the threat in time? And who can do what to make it all happen?

About the author

Mike Berners-Lee is a leading carbon consultant and author of How Bad Are Bananas?, one of the bestselling green books of recent years. Duncan Clark is a Guardian environment journalist and author of various successful books, including TheRough Guide to Green Living.

Reviews

Praise for How Bad Are Bananas? 'It is terrific. I can't remember the last time I read a book that was more fascinating and useful and enjoyable all at the same time

- Bill Bryson

An engaging book that manages to present serious science without preaching

- New Scientist

Enjoyable, fun to read and scientifically robust. A triumph of popular science writing

- Chris Goodall

The image of scientists and academics used to be one of calm people mildly watching the world of data and prodding it now and again. Today, the frustration among many is palpable. This book shows why. The gap between evidence, policy and practice is yawningly wide. And widening. This book tries to bridge that gap, offering a reasoned account of the problem and suggesting where and how we might change as consuming societies. In my own area of food, this seems to point one way - culture change. Read this and it'll help you think about the options for how to do that

- Timothy Lang

The issues explored in The Burning Question are hugely important. Policymakers and the public urgently need to be engaging in this kind of big-picture conversation

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